Erling Haaland’s China Meme Phenomenon and Missed Dinner Invite from Tom Holland

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland said he ignored a direct‑message dinner invitation from actor Tom Holland while both were in Monaco for the Formula 1 Grand Prix, explaining he does not watch many movies and did not recognize Holland.

In parallel, Haaland has become a viral icon in China, where his fan base on platforms such as Weibo (1.6 million) and Douyin (5.8 million) now exceeds the entire population of Norway. Chinese netizens have given him the nickname “Ha Bao,” turning his on‑field exploits into memes, romance‑game avatars and commercial endorsements, including a role as global ambassador for the herbal drink Wanglaoji.